Opinion & Analysis

With the coming of spring, so comes the rite of senioritis, that time when high school seniors do very little of an academic nature, and, as a result, often get themselves into trouble due to having too much time, accompanied by too little structure.

When legislators struggle just to pass modest education reform proposals, transforming our public school system can seem an impossible goal. And it would be if we asked lawmakers to devise a perfect plan to remake every Iowa school into a lean, mean, 21st Century learning machine.

Most Americans are accustomed by now to hearing that our kids are lagging in basic skills when measured against other advanced countries. The glory days when we were global leaders are long gone, sadly.

This week, some state Republicans wanted the House to lap up private school vouchers, touted as a panacea by Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and Sen. Dan Patrick. But when it came time to vote, the house must not have been thirsty. Vouchers were shot down in a 103-43 vote.

Student achievement in New Jersey school is evidence of hard work and perseverance. According to the Nation’s Report Card, New Jersey ranks second in the United States in overall fourth- and eighth-grade reading achievement and has a four-year high school graduation rate of 86.5 percent.

Worse than the school scandals that have been in the news in recent months and years is the continued delay from state lawmakers, and outright obstructionism from some in Georgia’s education establishment, in giving students and parents real options to escape such dysfunction.

The NRA is amping up the gun control debate a week before Congress plans to reconvene to consider gun legislation on the Senate floor. In a NRA-funded report outlined by former Republican Arkansas Congressman Asa Hutchinson, its main component recommended using federal money to place armed guards in every school in America, citing evidence that turned out to be distorted or false.

School choice is making headlines in multiple states this spring. Several have approved or are considering proposals to expand educational opportunity for families.

Atlanta's cheating scandal has gripped the nation, with 35 educators indicted Friday for raising their students' standardized test scores. But while the scandal should be investigated and dishonest teachers held to account, the overall picture is more complicated.

The discussion about education reform should shift from widespread condemnation to a more targeted, nuanced conversation.